End caps for gym

ABSTRACT

An end cap closure assembly for closing the end of a tubular member, particularly the cross bar hanger member of a gym set. The assembly includes a generally hollow body portion having a skirt portion extending therefrom and defining an interiorly facing annular shoulder with the body portion. The skirt portion is adapted to surround the exterior surface of the end portion of a tubular member, for example, the cross bar hanger, with the end thereof abutting the shoulder. The body portion is formed with an opening in the end thereof opposite the skirt portion with the opening communicating with the interior of the skirt portion. An elongated strap member is insertable into the opening formed in the body portion and extends axially beyond the skirt portion. The strap member includes a head portion adapted to close the opening in the body portion and has an aperture formed in the portion of the strap member extending beyond the skirt portion which is adapted to receive fastening means inserted therethrough to secure the assembly to the tubular member.

United States Patent 1 Kroll 1451 Sept. 11,1973

1 1 END CAPS FOR GYM [75] inventor: Glenn H. Kroll, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Sears Roebuck and Co., Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: May 1, 1972 21 App]. No.1 248,935

[52] U.S. Cl. 138/89, 138/96 R [51] Int. Cl. F161 57/00 [58] Field of Search 138/89, 96 R, 96 T;

272/85; 292/348, 350, 351, 347; 16/42 T, 108, 121; 285/D1G. 2; 74/543, 548, 551.9, 553, 558; 5/281; 287/53 TK; 73/173; 220/25,

Primary Examiner Charles A. Ruehl Attorney-Nathan N. Kraus, Gerald S. Schur et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT An end cap closure assembly for closing the end of a tubular member, particularly the cross bar hanger member of a gym set. The assembly includes a generally hollow body portion having a :skirt portion extending therefrom and defining an interiorly facing annular shoulder with the body portion. The skirt portion is adapted to surround the exterior surface of the end portion ofa tubular member, for example, the cross bar hanger, with the end thereof abutting the shoulder. The body portion is formed with an opening in the end thereof opposite the skirt portion with the opening communicating with the interior of the skirt portion. An elongated strap member is insertable into the opening formed in the body portion and extends axially be yond the skirt portion. The strap member includes a head portion adapted to close the opening in the body portion and has an aperture formed in the portion of the strap member extending beyond the skirt portion which is adapted to receive fastening means inserted therethrough to secure the assembly to the tubular member.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures END CAPS roe GYM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to end caps for gyms, particularly outdoor playground type gym sets. Presently, outdoor gym sets are installed either with the ends of the tubular members being exposed or with end caps which are held by friction to the ends of the tubular cross bar hanger. Less frequently, end caps have been affixed to the ends of cross bar hangers by inserting a fastening, such as a screw, through the exposed surface of the end cap and the covered portion of the tubular member adjacent its ends. All of these installations are disadvantageous in that the end caps, if frictionally held to the ends of the cross bar hanger, can be easily removed therefrom upon receiving a blow from an object, or if held by a fastening as described above, can be torn from the end of the cross bar hanger by tearing the end cap at the fastening upon receiving such a blow or repeated blows. Permitting the ends of the cross bar hanger to be exposed is undesirable as it often can be a source of injury to a child using the gym and can be a source of early decay of the cross bar hanger due to the exposure of the interior of the hanger to the elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an end cap closure assembly for closing the end of a tubular member.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an end cap closure assembly which covers and surrounds the terminal portion of a tubular member.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an end cap closure assembly for a tubular member which is secured to the tubular member interiorly of the end of the tubular member.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an end cap closure assembly which is secured to a tubular member by means ofa flexible strap axially disposed in the terminal portion of the tubular member.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an end cap closure assembly arranged to cover and enclose the terminal portion of a tubular member. The end cap closure assembly includes a body portion having a skirt portion adapted to surround the exterior surface of the terminal portion of a tubular member. The skirt portion includes an interiorly facing annular shoulder which is adapted to abut the end of the tubular member on installation. The body portion of the assembly, which is generally hollow, includes an opening formed therein in its end opposite the skirt portion. A strap member is insertable through the opening to serve as a closure of the opening and to provide a flexible strap by which the assembly can be secured to the tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the end cap assembly of the present invention installed on a gym.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, on an enlarged scale, of one embodiment of the present invention applied to the terminal portion of a tubular member.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-scctional view, taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, of another embodiment of the present invention applied to the terminal portion of a tubular member.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, of still another embodiment of the present invention applied to the terminal portion of a tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the particular construction shown in FIGS. 14 in the drawing, an end cap closure assembly 10 is applied to the terminal end of tubular member 11 ofa gym. Tubular memeber 11 may be a cross bar hanger or the coupling member, as shown, secured in position by legs 12.

End cap closure assembly 10 includes a body portion I3 which is generally hollow and has a skirt portion 14 extending therefrom. Skirt portion 14 includes a lower portion I5 which has a reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of the remainder of skirt portion 14 and forms a relatively smooth integral exterior surface with the remainder of skirt portion 14 and body portion I3. Lower portion 15 may be flared outwardly or interiorly beveled to facilitate installation on tubular member 11. Skirt portion 14 and its lower portion 15 define an interiorally facing annular shoulder 16 which serves as an abutment for tubular member II as will be hereinafter described.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2-4, body portion 13 is generally parabolic in cross-section and substantially solid from its outer end 17 to its junction with skirt portion 14, except for an opening 18 which communicates with the interior of skirt portion 14. Opening 18 is the: orifice of a centrally disposed bore formed in body portion 13.

The end cap closure assembly of the present invention alsoincludes a strap member ll9 which is elongated and is insertable into body portion 13 through opening 18. In its fully inserted position, strap member 19 ex tends axially beyond body portion 13 and skirt portion 14. Strap member 19 includes a head portion 21 which is adapted to close opening 18 and form a relatively smooth, continuous exterior surface with body portion 13. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4, head portion 21 of strap member I9 has a relatively flat surface transverse to the elongated portion of strap member 19, the surface being adapted to bear against the mating end 17 of body portion 13 in securing end cap closure assembly 10 on the terminal portion of tubular member 11. Strap member 19 has an aperture 22 formed in the portion thereof extending beyond the end of lower portion 16 of skirt portion 14. Aperture 22 is adapted to receive fastening means inserted therethrough to secure assembly 10 to tubular member 11 as will be hereinafter described. Strap member 19 is preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section and is insertable into opening 18, which is preferably substantially rectangular and defines the orifice of a centrally disposed substantially rectangular bore formed in body portion 13.

In accordance with the present invention, end cap closure assembly I is secured to the terminal portion of tubular member 11 by fastening means 23 inserted through aperture 22 formed in strap member 19. Conveniently, fastening means 23 may be a pin inserted through aligned apertures 24 formed in tubular member 11. Apertures 24 often are present in tubular member 11 to enable fastening of the coupling member to the cross bar hanger as is known in the art. Therefore, apertures 24 and the fastening inserted therein may serve the dual purpose of securing the coupling member to the cross bar hanger and securing the end cap closure assembly 10 to the cross bar hanger. If fastening means 23 is a pin, the end portions thereof extending beyond tubular member 11 may be upset to form rounded heads 26 to secure strap member 19 in position on the terminal portion of tubular member 11. Other types of fasteners can be used for fastening means 23, for example, a rivet, or a nut and bolt combination.

Installing end cap closure assembly 10 as described above provides a relatively smooth, corner-free covering over and about the end portion of a tubular member. In addition, end cap closure assembly 10 is secured to tubular member 11 interiorly of the tubular member, thus preventing ripping or tearing of the exterior surfaces of assembly 10 as may occur if fastening means 23 was secured therethrough. End cap closure assembly 10 when secured in this manner, seals the end of the tubular member to prevent the ingress of rain into the member which would cause it to rust and also provides a smooth protective surface over the usually rough edges of the member to prevent injury to children playing with the gym. The assembly 10 is resistant to being knocked-off of the end of the tubular member upon receiving sharp blows thereto due to the relatively flexible strap member 19 by which the assembly is secured to the tubular member.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. wherein body portion 13 is hollow and has a substantially uniform thickness extending from shoulder 16 to end 17. End 17 is formed into a substantially planar surface transverse to the axis of assembly forming a bearing surface for head portion 21. In all other respects the assembly is identical to the assembly shown in FIGS. 24.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. As there shown, strap member 19 is formed with a cylindrical collar 27 integral with head portion 21 with the diameter of collar 27 being substantially less than the diameter of the largest portion of head portion 21. Body portion 13 at end 17 terminates in a planar annular ring extending exteriorly of body portion 13 forming a shoulder 29 engageable with collar 27 to provide an improved bearing and locking arrangement between strap member 19 and body portion 13. It will be seen that this arrangement provides a secure, reinforced non-slip arrangement between strap member 19 and body portion 13 as compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In all other respects the assembly is identical to the assembly shown in FIGS. 2-5.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described and uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

I. An end cap closure assembly for closing the end of a tubular member comprising a generally hollow body portion having a skirt portion extending from said body portion and defining an interiorly facing annular shoulder therewith, said skirt portion being adapted to surround the exterior surface of the terminal portion of a tubular member with the end thereof abutting said shoulder, said body portion having an opening formed in the end thereof opposite said skirt portion communicating with the interior of said skirt portion, and an elongated strap member insertable in the opening formed in said end of said body portion and extending axially beyond said skirt portion and having a head portion adapted to close said opening, and said strap member having an aperture formed in the portion thereof extending beyond said skirt portion and adapted to receive fastening means inserted therethrough to secure said assembly to the tubular member.

2. The end cap closure of claim I, wherein the body portion is hollow and has a substantially uniform thickness extending from said annular shoulder to said end, said skirt portion having a substantially uniform lesser thickness.

3. The end cap closure of claim 2, wherein said strap member has a cylindrical collar integral with said head portion, the diameter of said collar being substantially less than the diameter of said head portion, and said body portion terminating at said end in a planar, annular ring extending exteriorly of said body portion, said ring forming a shoulder engageable with said collar of said strap member.

4. The end cap closure of claim 1, wherein said body portion has a substantially solid portion adjacent said end thereof, said solid portion having a centrally disposed bore formed therein being substantially rectangular in cross-section, said solid portion having a substantially flat surface transverse to the axis of the centrally disposed bore formed therein at said end, and said strap member being substantially rectangular in cross-section and being insertable into said bore formed in said body portion with said head portion being engageable with said surface.

5. The end cap closure of claim I in which the outer end of said skirt portion is flared outwardly. 

1. An end cap closure assembly for closing the end of a tubular member comprising a generally hollow body portion having a skirt portion extending from said body portion and defining an interiorly facing annular shoulder therewith, said skirt portion being adapted to surround the exterior surface of the terminal portion of a tubular member with the end thereof abutting said shoulder, said body portion having an opening formed in the end thereof opposite said skirt portion communicating with tHe interior of said skirt portion, and an elongated strap member insertable in the opening formed in said end of said body portion and extending axially beyond said skirt portion and having a head portion adapted to close said opening, and said strap member having an aperture formed in the portion thereof extending beyond said skirt portion and adapted to receive fastening means inserted therethrough to secure said assembly to the tubular member.
 2. The end cap closure of claim 1, wherein the body portion is hollow and has a substantially uniform thickness extending from said annular shoulder to said end, said skirt portion having a substantially uniform lesser thickness.
 3. The end cap closure of claim 2, wherein said strap member has a cylindrical collar integral with said head portion, the diameter of said collar being substantially less than the diameter of said head portion, and said body portion terminating at said end in a planar, annular ring extending exteriorly of said body portion, said ring forming a shoulder engageable with said collar of said strap member.
 4. The end cap closure of claim 1, wherein said body portion has a substantially solid portion adjacent said end thereof, said solid portion having a centrally disposed bore formed therein being substantially rectangular in cross-section, said solid portion having a substantially flat surface transverse to the axis of the centrally disposed bore formed therein at said end, and said strap member being substantially rectangular in cross-section and being insertable into said bore formed in said body portion with said head portion being engageable with said surface.
 5. The end cap closure of claim 1 in which the outer end of said skirt portion is flared outwardly. 